Mayor Lani lauds multi-million drug bust ops in BGC

Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano lauded the arrest of two Canadian nationals found to be in possession of illegal drugs estimated to be worth millions of pesos inside a condo unit in Bonifacio Global City (BGC) this morning by composite team of national and local law enforcers.

 “Winning the war against illegal drugs is an essential component in the maintenance of peace and order in Taguig. More than providing a safe haven for the business community to flourish in our beloved city, it is also important in securing our residents against syndicates that prey on the innocent,” Mayor Lani said.

 “It is therefore imperative that we double our efforts in ridding Taguig of illegal drugs. I therefore laud the Taguig City police and the NBI for this recent victory against illegal drugs.”

 The National Bureau of Investigation, in coordination with the Taguig Police Station and the Southern Police District, confiscated a cache of shabu, cocaine and ecstasy estimated to be worth millions from Canadian nationals Barry Espadilla and Christian Tolazo in an early morning raid at Unit 301 Luxe Residences today.

 “We must remain vigilant against this menace in our society. While I am glad that the NBI and the police are able to dismantle this drug operation, I challenge them to be more aware and to stay on ground against crimes such as this,” Mayor Lani stressed.

 In light of the circumstances surrounding the anti-drug operation in BGC, Mayor Lani also asked all condo owners and management firms to review their process of screening tenants and tighten their monitoring of illegal activities in their premises.

 It is the standing policy of the Taguig City government to take a stronger stance against illegal drugs and the criminal syndicates that peddle them within the city.

 Mayor Lani assured the public that her administration will not tolerate illegal acts and will continue to double the efforts in dismantling criminal syndicates that operate in the city.

Before Mayor Lani took over the helm in Taguig, the city had the bad reputation of being an illegal drugs “hot spot” mainly due to the extensive operations of the syndicate that reached the point wherein shabu can be bought in sari-sari stores.

 Last year, prominent members of the Tinga Drug Syndicate, which included Joana Tinga and Henry Tinga, were arrested in a raid in Barangay Sta. Ana.

 Prior to this, the Taguig police arrested Elisa “Ely” Tinga, an alleged key member of the Tinga Drug Syndicate and the third most wanted in the police watchlist. ###